From: "carys murray" <carysmurray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Date: Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:12 pm
Subject: [USS CAPRICORN] - Into the Darkness
MD4
Inside Marquis' Castle
[SNIP]
"Where did that J'sse go?" She demanded. "And where's the doctor?"
It was obvious they were in the castle, but as to where remained to be
seen.
The team fanned out checking the corridor for the missing medical
officer
finding no trace of her or the missing man which didn't surprise
Montana.
[END SNIP]
Miaren felt his arms around her in a protective way as he escorted her
out
of the chaos and fray of the others. How he has gotten her away she was
still now quite sure. She remembered the urgency of the first officer,
and
the anger of being trapped.
Now it was quiet, other than the soft scurrying noises of the normal
little
rodents that infested a castle of his size. Not unlike the ones in her
ancestral home. The pair stopped for a moment, J'sse letting her
catch her
breath.
"I am so relieved to see you again." He whispered stepping closer
and not
being able to resist reaching out and touching her hair. "I have
waited for
your return, but feared it as well."
Miaren taking a deep breath looked up into the blood-rimmed slivery
eyes and
studied him, his features, his stance, trying to make sense of this
feeling
that came over her when in his presence....altho it was not as strong
as the
last time.
I don't understand." She whispered softly, her lilt more pronounced
as was
typical when she was nervous and rattled.
"Ah my pet.....you and your friends are in grave danger...and I....I
need you to
be safe." He confided softly, leaning forward and bru****ng his lips
against
hers.
The shocking contrast of his cool ones against her warm ones caused her
to
gasp softly and before she could recoil, her body betrayed her by
reacting
and responding to the kiss.
J'sse smiled and caressed her cheek and nodded. "It matters not
that you do
not understand, only that I need to keep you safe. I am to bring you to
the
clearing, where Marquis is waiting with the others...."
He heard voices and barking commands. J'sse stiffened and grabbed her
hand
and led her through the hidden passageways. Miaren could see nothing,
and
what little she heard did not make her feel any safer.
"There is treachery afoot, and I need to ensure your safety....for
should I
lose you, I would die." He whispered back to her as they made their
way
through the pitch darkness.
Miaren shook her head in trying to fathom all this information that she
now
carried with her. She was in danger? Or the entire a-way team?
Treachery
was certain, but whose? And how many were involved? Was J'sse and his
people involved with the explosion and cover-up?
"Wait!" she hissed to him, as she tried to stop in her tracks. Her
arm
lurching forward causing her to stumble into him as he stopped to face
her.
She bumped into his chest and then she stood back to try to see his
face....anything in this darkness.
"I be in danger? Or the entire team? IF the team be in danger I
can't leave
them behind!" she exclaimed. "Tis dereliction of duty, I could be
court
marshaled!" she cried out.
Not that she was really into the military thing, but she had promised,
no
sworn to do her duty and her best, and if not just that....she had
others to
consider. Not just her family reputation and name.....but what of the
new
friends she had made here?
This; whether she liked it all that much was her home now; and the crew
her
family. She could not, would not abandon them for anyone or any reason.
"If they be in danger.....J'sse....." she struggled to use his
name..."I just
can't walk away and leave them here."
"We are all in danger, and I will promise you they will be fine. We
will
all be fine, but I must get you to the clearing, with Marquis and the
other
one."
J'sse reached up once more to touch and caress her silken skin and
tried to
reassure her. He did not have time to try to convince her to follow
him, if
needs be...he would ensure she would follow. The thought of losing her
like
Marquis had lost his love...he would not allow that to happen.
Miaren was not happy with his obvious side-tracking of the issue, and
pulled
away from him and his distracting touch. What was wrong with her? She
had
never in all her born days acted like a simpleton. What power or hold
did
he have over her?
"J'sse." She pleaded. "Please take me back to the others.....to
help
them.....please."
"Thy will be done my love." He whispered softly and leaned in
closer to
first kiss her softly and that was the last thing she remembered.
"Forgive me love." He whispered to her as he picked up her limp
body. "It
is the only way....I can not lose you."
Effortlessly he made his way through the darkened secret passages;
passages
that had been used in the past to meet in secret. To plan and plot the
downfall of one they thought was corrupt and had lost his true inner
sense
of who and what they were.
But then came the day of illumination. The day she walked into the
Castle
and his whole world changed. The day he realized that their leader was
not
a dolt, a fool and lost in a fantasy that could never be.
That was the day when many things began to make sense, and the words of
the
betrayer became cold and empty. When for the first time in almost
forever
he knew what it was like to walk in the sunlight.
He heard the voices of those who searched for his sweet prize. He
waited
until they passed and ducked down yet another corridor. He heard the
shouts
and orders to find the intruders and he waited until he sensed them
gone.
Slipping out into a little used hallway on the lower floor, J'sse
quickly
made his way into the side gardens and out the gate and led to another
outer
courtyard and slipping silently he made his way into the jungle.
Now all he had to do was get her to safety. With his precious cargo in
tow
he began to make his way down the path and hoped with all the chaos and
the
plans within plans he would have a quick and easy path to the
clearing.....and
to freedom.
He had not gone more than 1,000 meters when a shout went out and he
knew
that somehow he had been spotted. He was not sure who it had been, and
he
did not care. It made no difference to him at this point, whether it
was
from his people or hers.
He picked up the pace and was glad he could move as quickly and swiftly
as
he could and not leave much of a trail behind for them to follow.
Stepping off the path so that he could cut across in a straight pattern
rather than follow the safety of the winding path he turned his focus
to
around them and with a speed and grace that belied his build and the
cargo
he carried weaved and dodged through the underbrush and ignoring the
slapping branches and fronds as they raced to safety.
J'sse picked up the pace as he heard and sensed the creatures being
released
to give chase and to prevent that which he raced towards. Gone was the
soft
spoken caring person that he showed to others.
Now he was in his element and he was all animal. Blood pumping, muscles
screaming as he raced, jumped over obstacles, darted and ducked over
the
brush in his path. Gone was the sensations of the stinging and slapping
of
the leaves and branches.
He smelled them before hearing them. When he heard the soft menacing
growls
he knew he could not stop to finish them off. They would be easy to
do....he
had fought them countless times....but he could not risk them taking
her.
She was all that mattered....even if he failed his Master.....and she
was
safe....he would always know he had not failed. He knew at that moment
he
would die for her.
Hearing the attack before it came helped him dodge it and spurned him
on.
He sensed the small pack and knew they had split up to surround him.
She
could not be taken.
He quickly twirled about in search of a place that he could hide her,
for
this small pack needed to be taken care of and quickly. He glanced up
and
smiled.
Leaping with a grace and talent that spoke of practice J'sse leapt to
a
ledge and tucked the limp body of Miaren out of sight. He then leaped
back
to the path and ran head on into the pack that had been released to do
their
damage.
Without thought to his physical well-being J'sse rushed the pack of 4
creatures and with an inner strength he had not realized he possessed
quickly took care of 2 of the decay filled beasts.
Their death howls echoed over the valley and only spurned J'sse on to
seek
out the others and dispose of them before she was found. The next 2
were not
so easy and several times their claws raked him and sent a blood
chilling
yell from him.
It took longer than he had expected to take down the patrol pack and
without
cleaning off or taking care of his wounds; he rushed back to the hiding
place to find her undisturbed.
Carefully checking her over and making sure she was still breathing he
tenderly gathered her in his arms and continued his way to the
clearing.
He was glad she was still breathing altho he hoped he had not put her
at
risk. He gingerly made his way to the path and continued onward, not as
fast
as before, he felt he could slow his pace for a bit, hoping that he had
given himself some breathing space before the next patrol found the
remains
of the previous one.
He tried to remember the plans that Sybil had spoken of and knew that
he
needed to get his beloved to the clearing and meet up with Marquis and
his.
Then they could ask for sanctuary and leave this place.
Let Sybil have it. She had coveted it for years, always bowing and
scrapping her subservience when in truth she loathed him and everything
that
was their life.
J'sse heard sounds of more moving towards the clearing and wondered
if by
chance the rest of that team had gotten away and was making their run
to
safety. He doubted it, knowing that tall red-head woman. She reminded
him
a lot of Sybil.
Shaking his thoughts he continued his trek up the path and when he
spotted a
detail laying in ambush he once again ducked into the jungle and worked
his
way around them. They were not that hard to fool, and with his talents,
he
made his way past them and decided to keep to the under brush as much
as
possible.
He could now hear the soft voice of the Marquis and he was speaking
to.......her! J'sse's heart raced with an excitement he had not
felt in ever so
long. It was going to happen...just like he had spoken of for so long.
J'sse thought back to those early days when he had listened to his
leader's
words and had turned from him because he had not understood. He spent
hours
in heated debate over the futility of such a notion and possibility.
But then it had happened to him! Now he held within his arms his true
salvation. It would be as Marquis had promised.
Lost in his thoughts he nearly missed the surprise attack. With only
seconds
to respond he blocked the first assault well and managed to send one
flying
back and into a tree knocking him out.
The other one he knew well. They had worked together many times. There
was
no love between them, and this one wanted J'sse out of the way so he
could
step in and claim that which J'sse held.
"Traitor!" he hissed baring his fangs and extending his claws.
J'sse bared his fangs in warning. This would not be pretty, a fight
to the
death. He could not lose. He took a few steps back and slowly lowered
himself to the ground never taking his eyes off his opponent.
"We finish this NOW!" the other screamed in outrage as J'sse
stood up to
face him. His launched attack was not a surprise as J'sse had watched
him
battle before. He easily deflected him and moved to keep any possible
harm
or injury to Miaren from occurring.
Back on his feet K'thall began to circle around and for a few rounds
they
circled one another sizing each other up. J'sse knew his strengths
but he
did not know the power that drove him to keep her safe. J'sse hoped
that
this would be enough.
K'thall as usual launched the first attack and it quickly boiled down
to a
flurry of frenzied blows. Both well matched and in their prime, and
both
quickly realizing the other would not go down quickly or easily.
J'sse harnessed his passion for Miaren within and let it help him
keep his
focus while he defended for a time allowing K'thall to use his rage
and
anger up and weaken him.
Each blow was well matched, blocked, parried or deflected. Both endured
and
over came the injuries due to fang and claws alike. Every time J'sse
felt
as if he could not go on, tuning out his screaming muscles and the
burning
pain from the claws, and the previous wounds he thought of her......and
somehow
he managed to find within the strength to dish out one more blow.
Then K'thall overstepped a dodging blow and fell near the limp
unresponsive
body of Miaren. In the attempt to get back up his claws scratched her
and
hearing a soft cry at the injury he grinned wickedly and turned his
attention from J'sse to Miaren.
J'sse seeing her in danger roared with a rage he had never before
felt and
tackled his opponent to the ground and with a few frenzied blows left
him
bloodied and limp on the grass. J'sse rushed to her side to see what
damage
had been done.
She appeared to be well; her blood was red and fresh as it bubbled to
the
surface of her skin. J'sse licked the wound to check the severity of
it.
It was not deep, and would probably fade in time.
Gently picking her up he cradled her in his arms and slowly with great
pain
and effort stumbled towards the clearing.
He could hear the voices of Marquis, his beloved....and another.....was
this the
one that all their hopes and fate rested on?
Barging through the brush into the clearing he stumbled for a moment
and
then righted himself.
Avi hearing the rustling of the bushes looked up to see a man bloodied
and
battered emerge from the foliage and.....carrying his chief medical
officer.
"We are betrayed Marquis!" J'sse spoke to his master.
[TAG - Josh : ).......and anyone else who wishes to begin the push to
the
clearing......]
[Summary]
Miaren finds herself spirited away by J'sse who speaks to her or
betrayal
and treachery. They argue when she asks him to return her to her team.
J'sse carries the limp and unconscious body of Miaren to the
clearing,
having to stop and battle of few creatures to get through to Marquis.
Respectfully Submitted by
Carys Murray
Aka
Miaren Hywell
CMO USS Capricorn
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